WASHINGTON, Sept 10 — The United States recorded its lowest overall death rate since the start of the pandemic, with new federal data showing that COVID-19 is no longer among the nation’s ten leading causes of death.
Figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate the age-adjusted death rate fell to 722 per 100,000 people in 2024, a 3.8% decline from the year before. That marks the lowest level since 2020, when the pandemic first drove mortality sharply higher.
For the first time in four years, COVID-19 did not rank inside the top ten leading causes of death. Suicide has taken its place at number ten, underscoring a growing public health concern.
Heart disease remained the leading cause of death in 2024, claiming more than 683,000 lives, followed by cancer with nearly 620,000. Unintentional injuries, including drug overdoses and accidents, ranked third with just under 200,000 deaths. Both heart disease and cancer deaths increased compared to the previous year, despite the overall decline in mortality.
The data showed that men, older Americans, and Black individuals continued to face the highest death rates, though most demographic groups experienced declines.
Health experts attribute the shift largely to a reduction in COVID-19 fatalities, driven by vaccines, improved treatments, and wider population immunity. Still, analysts caution that rising deaths from chronic illnesses and suicide highlight continuing vulnerabilities in the U.S. health system.
The CDC stressed that the figures remain provisional but reflect a significant transition in the country’s mortality patterns, moving away from the pandemic’s peak impact and toward long-term challenges tied to chronic disease and mental health.
